Fouzia, a hairdresser and beautician from Pakistan, came to the UK in August 2023. She had worked in the beauty industry for 9 years before coming to the UK and after undertaking a UK refresher course at Wesley Hall in Leicester she is now ready to start her journey to work in the UK and is looking for full time work in a salon.
Fouzia said “I am just about to complete a 5-week beauty and hairdressing refresher course and have just one day left to do. It’s been really good as although I have lots of experience and Certificates from Pakistan’s Government College, the refresher course will help me to find work in the beauty industry in the UK. I feel I have a lot to offer with a wide range of skills in hair styling and colouring and beauty treatments including manicures, pedicures, waxing and threading.
One of my biggest challenges when I first came to the UK was my English speaking so with GRoW’s support I enrolled on an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course and am now seven weeks into a 17 week in-person programme. It’s going really well and has helped me improve my English language speaking skills. I felt quite confident with understanding others but speaking English more fluently had been more difficult but since doing this course I now feel much more comfortable and confident when speaking to others.
My first introduction to GRoW was when I attended the GRoW Programme at the Shama Women’s Centre in Leicester. GRoW has been such a valuable resource and I am so happy that I joined the programme. Liz, Zoiya and Saeema have been very helpful in giving me the advice and guidance I need to start me on my journey to work here in the UK. They are giving me lots of support, helping me with my CV and ideas for job openings. They have also introduced me to the GRoW App which has lots of useful practical tips on how to find work and also on motivation.
Now with the Refresher course almost completed I feel ready to start looking for full-time work in a beauty/hairdressing salon and am feeling really happy about the future.